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From: "Viv Kymdell" <>
Subject: MUNDELL HISTORY
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 02:27:51 +0200
References: <000201c646e1$0c7b9750$0f18d0c4@antonyeyzuztvx> <013d01c64ff4$347e8840$4001a8c0@family> <000701c6506c$da1c0fc0$341cd0c4@vivien> <003b01c6518d$623a62f0$4001a8c0@family> <025501c65197$118861e0$0401010a@lynn>


A Good early morning to you all!

Excerpts from James Mundell and His Descendants by Hilda Mary Corrin

James MUNDELL *1794 + Nettle Grove Farm, Cradock 7.12.1872 x Catherine NN
*1791 + St Lawwrence Farm, Fort Beaufort 16.8.1848

James MUNDELL was a farmer, aged 26, when he came to South Africa with the
British Settles of 1820. He is believed to have spent time on the Isle of
Wight and it is probably there that he met and married his wife Catherine.
James and Catherine, together with their first 2 children, Henry and
Elizabeth Rebecca, were members of WILLSON's Party [numbering 307 persons]
in the ship La Belle Alliance, under the command of Captain Rolfes, which
left from London in December 1819, on an eventful voyage to Algoa Bay.
Smallpos broke out on the vessel, but was fortunately brought under control.
Friction also developed within WILLSON's Party, which caused him to
relinquish leadership shortly after arrival in the Albany district and the
Reverend William BOARDMAN took his place as leader.

On arrival in Algoa Bay in May 1820, James and Catherine journeyed by
oxwagon, together with the rest of the Party, to Beaufort Vale on the
Blaauwkrantz river in the Albany district. Soon after their arrival there a
third child, Edward Wood was born, and in 1822 the fourth child James John
Henry. In 1823 they moved to Grahamstown and in 1824 James was licensed to
trade at Fort Willshire. James and his family later settled at Waterval,
an area in the district of Fort Beaufort, and names their farm St Lawrence
after the town of that name on the Isle of Wight. This farm of 1 631 morgen
was granted to James on 1 July 1851 [Fot Beaufort quit rents Vol 1 Portfolio
75 - info given by Stuart MUNDELL], but he must have been living there for
some time prior to 1851 as his house burnt down in 1835 and his first
grandchildren, James Henry and Mary Ann Elizabeth were born there in 1840.

The family suffered the depredations of a Settler family on a
conflict-fraught frontier and during the Sixth Frontier War of 1834-35,
besides having their house burnt down, a large number of livestock was taken
from the farm. James and his son Henry tookpart in the Eighth Frontier War
[1850-53] and were mentioned for distinguished service in the official
records. It was during this war that the artist Thomas BAINES passed Jame's
deserted house in the Waterkloof in October 1851, Catherine MUNDELL having
died three years earlier.

James MUNDELL died on the farm of Edward WEBSTER, Nettle Grove in the
district of Cradock, on 7th December 1872 and it is likely that he was
buried there. WEBSTER was married to his grand-daughter Mary Ann Elizabeth
MUNDELL. According to family lore, James was a cultured and well educated
English gentleman. He possessed a good library which, together with nearly
all his other personal belongings were destroyed in the Frontier Wars.
After his wife died, he did not remarry and later leased St Lawrence to his
grandson Henry Charles.

James occupied a cottage on the farm and was cared for by Henry and his
wife. A proud man of autocratic bearing, James was always formally dressed
with high starched collars and a cravat pinned with a gold pin studded with
pearls and turquoise. His only possessions saved from the marauders were
this pin, a heavy camphor box and a sliver-handled daggar. [Info given by
Stuart MUNDELL].

End Part 2

Regrads,

Viv Kymdell


> > When did the MUNDELL family arrive in SA?
> > Many thanks
> >
> > Jen



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